New Micarta Press.

KnuckleDownKnives

KnuckleDownKnives

Time to make the doughnuts..
Joined
Feb 12, 2015
Messages
1,715
Just built a new micarta press. Used some 3/8" flat bar, and 1/4" flat bar. It's MUCH better then the wood one I had and much more accurate to the thickness. Plus I added legs on this one so when I go to clamp the top on, it's raised off the table so the clamp fits under it and I have both hands free to work the clam. The results speak for them self. I used 9 layers of denim which measured out at .025" each so with 9 layers plus the wax paper leave just a small amount of room for resin between the layers. The press is 3" in the clear by 20" in length. I only tend to cut the material 15" as I can get 3 sets of scales from each piece I make plus it leaves room at each end for the extra resin to escape when clamped into the folded over ends of the wax paper and doesn't get all over my table.

Total cost of materials for press $26.00

Please don't mind the welds... I was in a pinch a few months ago and had to get some wire from Napa... NEVER AGAIN IT IS CRAP!!!!!





















 
What does the finished material look like on a handle, and how many hipsters do you have to kill for their skinny jeans to make a sheet like that? ;)
 
Nice one! But be careful some members are pretty sensitive to using term "Micarta", hahaha.
 
I remember years and years ago (10+) the jean handle material was really popular. I even made some to try out. It looks good and seams to hold up well depending on the resin you use. As for your press It is nice but I see a possible flaw. If I was making a press I would do it like you did but I would make the sides taller like 1"+ and make the top plate fit between the sides. On your design you can only press down till the top plate bottoms out on the sides. Wh en making this stuff you want to push out every last drop of extra resin. You want the resin as a binder not a filler. If you madeyout stack tall enough then you might be OK as long as you have a way to clamp it down. But then again Like i said last time I made this stuff is was like 10 years ago.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
What does the finished material look like on a handle, and how many hipsters do you have to kill for their skinny jeans to make a sheet like that? ;)
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Semi finished digital camo.



This was from the one made with the new press. Partially finished.




JTknives said:
I remember years and years ago (10+) the jean handle material was really popular. I even made some to try out. It looks good and seams to hold up well depending on the resin you use. As for your press It is nice but I see a possible flaw. If I was making a press I would do it like you did but I would make the sides taller like 1"+ and make the top plate fit between the sides. On your design you can only press down till the top plate bottoms out on the sides. Wh en making this stuff you want to push out every last drop of extra resin. You want the resin as a binder not a filler. If you madeyout stack tall enough then you might be OK as long as you have a way to clamp it down. But then again Like i said last time I made this stuff is was like 10 years ago.
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My original one made with sides like you describe and I had mixed results. Could never get it clamped even. Right now I only want 1/4" so it works. Easily changed by using a wider top and bottom and changing out the spacer but this works. I'm enjoying learning and making it myself. The stack height is easy enough to figure out with a caliper and calculator. Now that I've figured out the process good I'll be looking into other materials than jeans I had laying around. I suspect having a thinner material giving me a higher layer count will look pretty nice. Plenty of possibilities at a fabric shop.
 
kuraki said:
Lol.

Looking good pleasanthill.
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Thanks Kuraki. Wish I didn't botch the handle glue op on the one with digital camo. Lesson learned about the type of glue I was using. The other one, is for personal use,I was going to go all out on it with nice hard wood, but cracked the blade during quench. Another lesson learned, so it's just going to be a shop knife. The pin placement is off as well. If I had some plain brass pin stock I would have just used them instead of the mosics but wanted to get it finished so I can start putting it to use. Been making a lot of mistakes, but if put to good use are some of the best learning tools a man can get. IMHO..

Reading up now on different types of resins and fabric combinations. I've found what looks like a good supplier for carbon fiber, kevlar, camo, linen and canvas.
 
Funny you should mention them, that is one of the sites I've been checking out. Thanks for the confirmation.
 
As far as squeezing to a fixed depth. I propose its mostly preference, not good or bad.
I make moicarta (French spelling ! ) under a 10ton press. If I squeeze too hard, whats easy to do. The material still works but with some fillers and or resins, dont care for its finished properties.
It can be trial & error to get it right, then record keeping to make consistient batches.

Mind you, I dont make alot of it. But its lots of fun to add customised elements of colour & such.
 
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What grit do you usally take your stuff to? I'm working with micarta for the first time and I'm shocked at how I love the grippyness at 220. I'm almost tempted to stop there.
 
E.Carlson said:
What grit do you usally take your stuff to? I'm working with micarta for the first time and I'm shocked at how I love the grippyness at 220. I'm almost tempted to stop there.
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The couple knives actually completed and sent out, I left at 220 (2 of them). Both are used hunting and fishing and they wanted it to grip when wet or bloody and when I was finishing them I had the same experience as you so that's where I stopped. I have 1 that's been sitting in my "almost finished" box since last christmas at 220 and not sure if I will take it any further. It's for my 15 year old step son so a little extra grip wont hurt. The other I'm working on shown above is for me and will be used around the shop so I may just stop at 220 as well. It has a small crack in the blade from a botched quench so no sense in putting too much more time in it. Also the resin I'm using I don't think will go to a high gloss anyway.

Personally I kind of like the "grippy" finish. It feels very secure in my hand.
 
Yeah, this is for my new camp knife so function takes precedence over beauty. 220 it is.
 
pleasanthill said:
Just regular buy anywhere bondo fiberglass resin.
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Thanks.

I used a "generic", can't remember the brand, using plastic meal container for my first attempt. I was very surprised how light in heft it felt (I too used denim). But it felt very stiff.

Sent from my SM-T713 using Tapatalk
 
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